CH675932A5 - - Google Patents

Description

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Description

The present invention relates to a machine for the automatic installation of connection end pieces on the stripped ends of electrical conductors.

It is known that this type of end fitting is frequently used to facilitate the connection, on clamping terminals, of multi-strand electrical conductors coated with an insulating sheath.

It usually consists, for example as described in patent FR 1 468 859, in the name of the Applicant, of a tubular metal element intended to receive the stripped end of the conductor, and of an insulating sleeve which extends on one side the tubular element and into which engages the end of the insulating sheath.

The fitting of this nozzle then necessarily involves the following operational phases:

- cutting and stripping the insulating sheath of the electrical conductor;

- the installation of a tip on the stripped end; and

- the crimping of the tubular metal element on the stripped part of the conductor to secure the assembly and to guarantee good electrical continuity between the conductor and the tubular element.

Of course, these operations can be carried out by hand using traditional tools (wire stripper, pliers). However, this method, which is too costly in terms of time and personnel, is not suitable for industrial production of high-speed cabling.

This is the reason why machines have already been proposed for the automatic fitting of these nozzles, more particularly involving:

- a device for feeding bits;

- Means for guiding and holding in position the end of the conductor that we want to equip;

- a stripping device for this end;

- a device for fitting the end piece to the stripped end of the conductor; and

- a device for crimping the end piece once positioned on said end.

This type of machine in which the end of the conductor is fixedly held in position therefore necessarily includes mechanisms making it possible to successively position, with respect to this end, the stripping device, the laying device and the crimping device.

However, it turns out that the mechanisms proposed so far are relatively complex and, consequently, delicate and costly.

The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these drawbacks through a mechanism whose kinematics allows a great simplification of the machine, and a significant reduction in the number of its components.

To this end, the machine according to the invention conforms to the definition given by claim 1:

According to an advantageous embodiment, the machine can further comprise means making it possible to control the actuators and devices previously defined so as to

ensuring an operating sequence preferably comprising at least the following phases:

a first phase, in which the carriage occupies, with respect to the fixed structure, a first position in which the aforesaid guide device and the aforesaid supply device are respectively at right and can respectively cooperate with the stripping device and the device for receiving the ferrules, this first phase comprising the insertion of the end of the conductor inside the guide means and of the stripping device up to a stop, keeping the conductor in position away from its end , the distribution of a nozzle by the supply device in the receiving device, then shearing of the insulating sheath of the conductor at a distance from its end corresponding to the length which must be stripped;

- A second phase comprising a displacement of the mobile structure bringing the carriage into a second position spaced from the first, this displacement operated by the first actuator causing the extraction of the portion of the insulating sheath covering the end of the conductor as we want to strip;

a third phase during which the carriage is moved by the second actuator so as to occupy, with respect to the fixed structure, a third position in which the receiving means are in the axis of the guide means and holding and, consequently, the stripped end of the conductor;

- A fourth phase during which the movable structure is moved by the first actuator and brings the carriage into a fourth position at the end of a movement during which the end piece carried by the receiving means engages on the stripped end of the conductor;

- A fifth phase comprising the crimping of the end piece on said end;

- A sixth phase during which the carriage is brought back to its first position successively by a displacement of the mobile structure under the effect of the first actuator, bringing the carriage back to its third position, by a displacement of the carriage under the effect of second actuator to its second position, then by a displacement of the mobile structure under the effect of the first actuator which brings the carriage into its first position.

Another advantageous form of the previously defined machine uses only one and the same actuator for actuating the elements of the stripping device allowing the sheathing of the insulating sheath, and of the device for crimping the ends.

In this case, this actuator is mounted on the mobile structure in a location such that it can act on the stripping device when the carriage is in the aforementioned first position and on the crimping device which is associated with the device for receiving the end caps when the carriage is in its fourth position.

This results in the substantial saving of an actuator, its support elements and its supply circuits.

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An embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a machine for the automatic fitting of bits according to the invention;

Figures 2 to 12 are views on a reduced scale which illustrate the different operating phases of the machine shown in Figure 1, namely:

- the introduction of the conductor and a ferrule by its supply device, (Figure 2);

- shearing of the insulating sheath and holding the conductor at a predetermined position, (Figure 3);

- ie stripping, (Figures 4 and 5);

- The transfer of the carriage for the installation of the end piece, (Figure 6);

- the presentation of the tip on the stripped end of the conductor, (Figure 7);

- the crimping of the end piece, (Figures 8 and 9);

- the carriage returns to its initial position with extraction of the conductor, (Figures 10,11,12);

Figure 13 is a schematic partial axial section of a device for receiving and fitting the end pieces allowing rotation of the end piece when it is placed on the stripped end of the conductor; and

Figures 14 and 15 are two schematic sections showing a block for receiving and crimping end pieces (Figure 14) and a stripping block (Figure 15), these two blocks being usable in an alternative embodiment of the machine according to invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine firstly comprises a fixed structure 1 (shown diagrammatically by a rectangle), provided with a plate 2 having an insertion orifice 3 at the end of the conductor 4 which is wants to strip and an orifice 5 through which passes a tubular element 6 used for the distribution of the tips. The axes Xi, XV-X2, X'2 of the orifice 3 and of the element 6 are parallel and located at a distance from one another. These two axes are preferably vertical.

The introduction orifice 3 is moreover equipped with a device for holding the end of the conductor 4 in a rectilinear position comprising two jaws 7, 8 at least one of which is actuated by a jack Vi integral with the fixed structure 1.

On this fixed structure 1 is slidably mounted, by means of slides shown schematically in broken lines 10, 11, a structure 12 movable in translation parallel to the axes Xi, X'1-X2, X'2, under the action a jack V2 carried by the fixed structure 1.

This mobile structure 12 itself comprises means 13, 14 for guiding a carriage 15 which is mobile perpendicular to the axes Xi, X2 and whose movements are controlled by a jack V3 secured to said structure 12.

This carriage 15 supports the receiving and crimping device 16 of the end pieces delivered by the tubular distribution element 6 as well as a stripping device 17, these two devices comprising two access orifices 19, 20 oriented parallel one

to the other and to the axes Xi, X'i-X2, X'2 and spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance d.

These two orifices 19, 20 are arranged on the side of the carriage 15 opposite the plate 2.

More specifically, the receiving and crimping device 16 for the end pieces consists of at least two clamping jaws 21, 22 delimiting between them, in the rest position, a cavity 23 of shape substantially complementary to that of 'a tip 24 set in the chosen shape. These two jaws 21, 22 can be actuated in order to effect the crimping of the end pieces by a jack V4 secured to the movable structure 12 by means of an appropriate transmission system.

In this example, this transmission system involves for each of the jaws 21, 22 a lever 25, 26 pivotally mounted about an axis 27, 28 integral with the carriage 15, one end of this lever 25, 26 being articulated on the jaw 21, 22 while the other end carries a roller 29, 30 on which can bear a cam 31 carried by the rod of the jack V4. The two levers 25, 26 are arranged symmetrically so that the action of the cam 31 on the rollers 29, 30 causes the clamping of the jaws 21, 22 producing the crimping. These two levers 25, 26 are, moreover, biased by a return spring 32 which allows the jaws 21,22 to return to the rest position, in the absence of the action of the cam 31 on the rollers 29,30 .

The stripping device 17 has a structure similar to that of the crimping device 16. In this case, the jaws are replaced by knives 33, 34 directly fixed on corresponding ends of the levers 35, 36. The latter also have their others ends two rollers 37, 38 able to cooperate with the cam 31 carried by the cylinder V4. The configuration of the levers 35, 36 is provided so that under the action of the cam 31 on the rollers 37, 38, the knives 33, 34 approaching one another shear the insulating sheath of the conductor 4 without damaging the conductor, the stripping proper being then obtained by a displacement of the mobile structure 12 and, consequently of the carriage 15 under the effect of the jack V2.

It follows from the above description that, depending on the state of the cylinders Mz and V3, the carriage 15 may occupy four fixed positions relative to the fixed structure 1, namely:

- a first position in which it is located on the top right;

- a second position in which it is located at the bottom right;

- a third position in which it is located at the bottom left; and a fourth position in which it is located on the top left.

In its first position (Figure 2), the carriage 15 is placed so that the access ports 19,20 to the receiving devices 16 and stripping devices 17 are respectively coaxial with the distribution orifice of the tubular element 6 and to the insertion orifice 3 of the conductor 4.

Thus, during a first operating phase, the end of the conductor 4 is introduced into the device 5

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stripping wire 17 by passing it through the insertion orifice 3 until its end comes to bear on an abutment element 40 which may be adjustable, which defines the length of the section which is to be stripped. Advantageously, this stop 40 could consist of a sensitive stop controlling the start of the cycle. In parallel, the tubular element 6 can deliver a nozzle 24 which engages in the cavity 23 of the jaws 21, 22 which are then at rest.

In this first position, the cam 31 carried by the jack V4 is located in line with the rollers 37, 38 of the actuating levers 35, 36 of the knives 33, 34 of the stripping device 17.

During the next phase (Figure 3), the activation of the cylinder Vi causes the clamping of the jaws 7, 8 and, consequently, the maintenance in position of the conductor 4 upstream of the part to be stripped. In parallel, the activation of the jack V4 causes, by means of the cam 31 and the levers 35, 36, the closing of the knives 33, 34 and, consequently, the shearing of the sheath of the conductor 4.

The extraction of the sheath portion covering the part of the conductor 4 to be stripped is then obtained by activating the jack V2, so as to move the mobile structure 12 and, consequently, the carriage 15, in a downward translational movement. , parallel to the axes Xi, X2 (Figure 4).

During this movement, the knives 33, 34 which remain in the closed position and are driven by the carriage 15 extract the portion of the insulating sheath, while the rest of the conductor 4 is retained by the jaws 7, 8.

The deactivation of the jack V4 then causes disengagement of the cam 31 and the rollers 37,38 and, consequently, the opening of the knives 33, 34 (FIG. 5).

During the next phase, the jack V3 is activated so as to cause the carriage 15 to move to the left, until it reaches its third position (FIG. 6).

In this position, the end of the end piece 24 engaged in the cavity 23 delimited by the jaws 21, 22 is found to be substantially coaxial with the end 4 'of the previously stripped conductor 4, while the cam 31 is located in line with the rollers 29, 30 for actuating the jaws 21, 22 of the crimping device.

The activation of the jack V2 so as to cause a displacement of the structure 12 / carriage 15 assembly upwards then ensures the engagement of the end piece 24 on the stripped part 4 ′ of the conductor 4, while the sheath portion 40 'previously extracted is ejected (Figure 7).

The activation of the jack V4 then causes, by means of the cam 31, levers 25, 26 and jaws 21, 22, the crimping of the end piece 24 on the stripped part 4 ′ of the conductor (FIG. 8).

Immediately afterwards, the jack V4 is deactivated to release the end piece 24 (FIG. 9), then the jack V2 is activated so as to move the mobile structure 12 / carriage 15 assembly downward, displacement at the end of which the carriage returns to its third position (figure 10).

The deactivation of the jack Vi then causes the jaws 7, 8 to open and the conductor 4 to be released, which can be removed (FIG. 11). In parallel, the activation of the jack V3 causes the carriage 15 to move until it returns to its second position. In this position, the access orifices 19, 20 to the receiving devices 16 and stripping devices 17 are respectively coaxial with the distribution orifice of the tubular element 6 and with the insertion orifice of the conductor 4. L activation of the cylinder V2 to move the movable structure 12 upwards returns the carriage 15 to its first position.

In this position, a new conductor can be introduced into the stripping device, while a new end piece coming from the tubular element 6 can be engaged in the recess 23 delimited by the jaws 21, 22.

A new operating cycle can then be executed.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

Thus, in particular the cylinders Vi to V4 which have been shown diagrammatically in the form of pneumatic cylinders could consist of hydraulic or electric cylinders.

The cam and lever transmission system between the jack V4 and, respectively, the knives 33, 34 and the jaws 21, 22 could be replaced by other equivalent mechanical systems.

In addition, the jack V4 could be eliminated and replaced by means for actuating the knives 33, 34 and the jaws 21, 22 using the relative movements between the carriage, the mobile structure and the fixed structure.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the introduction of the stripped end of the conductor 4 inside the end piece, the device for receiving the end pieces 16 may advantageously comprise, as shown in FIG. 13, means making it possible to cause the end piece 24 to rotate about its axis during the introduction.

In this exemplary embodiment, the cavity 23 delimited by the jaws 21 and 22 only serves to receive the lower part of the tubular metallic element of the end piece 24 on which the crimping is to be carried out.

On the other hand, the upper part of the end piece 24 which comprises the insulating sleeve and a portion of the tubular element which is adjacent to it, engages in an orifice 23 'formed in the upper wall 15' of the carriage 15 and in the central volume of a ring gear 60 rotatably mounted in said wall 15 ', coaxially with the orifice 23' and the cavity 23.

This ring gear 60 can be rotated by means of an electric motor 61 and a reduction gear formed by a pinion 62 mounted at the end of the motor shaft 61 which meshes on a toothed wheel 63 engaged with the toothed crown 60.

The power supply of the motor 61 with electric current can then be carried out in synchronism with the activation of the jack V2 producing the displacement of the mobile structure 12 at the end of which takes place

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the introduction of the stripped end 4 ′ of the conductor 4 into the end piece 24.

It should also be noted that in the example described above, the actuation of the crimping device 16 and the stripping device 17 is ensured by the same cam 31 mounted at the end of the rod of the jack V4.

However, it turns out that this arrangement, which is moreover advantageous since it makes it possible to use only one jack for actuating the two devices, however has drawbacks, in particular when it is desired to carry out each of these devices in the form of an easily interchangeable autonomous block, so as to allow the use, in the machine, of blocks suitable for different types of conductors or ferrules.

Indeed, it seems difficult to conceive of being able to produce a cam actuated by the same jack which has a stroke and a profile perfectly suited to the whole range of stripping and crimping devices which it would be desirable to use on the machine.

The solution illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 avoids these drawbacks while maintaining the principle of a single cylinder V4 for the two devices.

In these figures, the device for receiving and crimping the end pieces (FIG. 14) and the stripping device (FIG. 15) are each produced in the form of an autonomous block 70,71 comprising:

- A fixed structure 72, 73 which consists, in this example, in a housing of which only the lateral sides have been shown, this structure 72, 73 comprising easily disconnectable fixing means for mounting on the carriage;

- two levers 74, 75-76, 77 articulated on the fixed structure around axes 78, 79-80, 81 and each comprising, at one of its ends, a head 82, 83-84, 85 specific to the device considered and, at its other end, a roller 86, 87-88, 89;

- A cam 90, 91 guided by the fixed structure 72, 73, so as to be able to effect a translational movement between the two rollers 86, 87-88, 89;

- First elastic means which consist, in this example, of two springs 92, 93-94, 95 which bear on the fixed structure 72, 73 and which act so as to tighten the rollers 86, 87-88, 89 against the cam profile;

- An adjustable stop integral with the cam which consists, in this case, of a knurled ring 96, 97 which is screwed onto the end of a pusher 98, 99 fixed to the cam 90, 91 and mounted to slide in a passage cylindrical provided in the fixed structure 72, 73, said ring 96, 97 being movable outside the housing; and

- second elastic means, here a spring 101, 102, which bear on the fixed structure 72, 73 and exert, on the cam 90, 91, a force tending to push it back into a position corresponding to a minimum spacing of the rollers 86 , 87-88, 89.

In this case, the rod 104 of the cylinder V4 no longer carries a cam 31, but is simply terminated by a stop surface 105 intended to come to exert a force on one or the other of the adjustable stops (rings 96, 97) of the two biocs 70,71 previously described.

Of course, the heads 82, 83-84, 85 of the levers used in the two blocks described above are specific to the functionality of these blocks.

Thus, in the receiving and crimping block 70 shown in FIG. 14, the levers 74, 75 ~ are terminated by two respective ball joints 106, 107 which engage in housings respectively provided in the two crimping jaws 108, 109 , which are slidably mounted on the upper surface of the housing formed by the fixed structure 72.

By cons, in the stripping block shown in Figure 15, the lever heads 84, 85 carry two respective knives 111,112 which extend substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the levers 76,77.

Advantageously, the oblique face 113, 114 of the cutting edge of these knives will be oriented towards the side of the insertion opening of the conductor. In addition, the profile of these cutting edges, in the plane of the knives 111, 112 will preferably be elliptical, so as to allow the stripping of conductors of different sections. To this end, it will then be possible to provide a retractable thickness shim enabling the stroke of the cam 91 to be limited when it is actuated by the jack V4.

It therefore clearly appears that, thanks to the arrangements described above, the user of the machine can easily change the blocks 70, 71, for example in the context of maintenance operations or to adapt the machine to different types of conductors and / or d 'tips, and without having to make delicate adjustments (the adjustment of the movable stop 96, 97 can be done in the factory).

Claims (13)

Claims 1. Machine for the automatic laying of connection end pieces on the stripped ends of electrical conductors, this machine more particularly involving a device for feeding end pieces, a device for guiding and holding in position the end of the conductor that we want to equip, a stripping device of this end, a device for fitting the end piece on the stripped end of the conductor, and a device for crimping the end piece on said end, characterized in that it includes: a fixed structure (1) carrying the device for supplying end pieces (6) as well as the devices for guiding (3) and holding in position (7, 8, V1) the end of the conductor (4), these two devices being oriented along two respective axes (X1, X'i-X2, X'2) parallel to each other; - a mobile structure (12) guided by the fixed structure and able to move in translation parallel to said axes (X1, X'i-X2, X'2) under the effect of a first actuator (V2) carried by the structure fixed (1); - a carriage (15) guided by the mobile structure (12) and able to move in translation in line with the above-mentioned feed (6) and guide (3) devices, along a rectilinear path perpendicular to said axes (Xi, XV- X2, X'2), under the effect of a second 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 5 9 CH 675 932 A5 10 actuator (V3) carried by the mobile structure (12), this carriage (15) carrying, oriented parallel to the above axes (Xi, X'i-X2, X'2), a stripping device (17), a device for reception (16) of the end pieces (24) coming from the supply device (6), this device then ensuring the transfer and installation of these end pieces on the stripped end (4 ') of the conductor (4), by virtue of a conjugation movements of the carriage (15) and of the mobile structure (12) and, associated with this receiving device (16), a device for crimping the ends (24) on the stripped ends (4 ') of the conductors (4). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means making it possible to control the above-mentioned actuators (V2, V3) and the above-mentioned devices (16, 17), so as to ensure a sequence comprising at least the following phases: - A first phase, in which the carriage (15) occupies with respect to the fixed structure a first position in which the aforesaid guide device and the aforesaid supply device are respectively at right and can respectively cooperate with the device stripping device (17) and the device for receiving the ferrules (16), this first phase comprising the insertion of the end of the conductor (4) inside the guide means and of the stripping device (17), the holding the conductor in position away from its end, distributing a nozzle (24) by the supply device (6) in the receiving device (16), then shearing the insulating sheath of the conductor (4) at a distance from its end corresponding to the length to be stripped; - A second phase comprising a displacement of the mobile structure (12) bringing the carriage (15) into a second position spaced from the first, this displacement operated by the first actuator (V2) generating the extraction of the portion of the insulating sheath covering the end of the conductor to be stripped; - a third phase during which the carriage (15) is moved by the second actuator (V3) so as to occupy, with respect to the fixed structure (1), a third position in which the receiving means ( 16) are in the axis of the guide and holding means and, consequently, of the stripped end of the conductor (4); - A fourth phase during which the mobile structure (12) is moved by the first actuator (V2) and brings the carriage (15) in a fourth position after a movement during which the end piece (24) carried by the receiving means engages on the stripped end (4 ') of the conductor (4); - A fifth phase comprising the crimping of the end piece (24) on said end (4 '), then the opening of the jaws (21, 22) by the actuator (V4) which is deactivated; - A sixth phase during which the carriage (15) is returned to its first position successively by a displacement of the movable structure (12) under the effect of the first actuator (V2), bringing the carriage back to its third position, by a movement of the carriage (15) under the effect of the second actuator (V3) to its second position then by a displacement of the mobile structure (12) under the effect of the first actuator (V2), which brings the carriage into his first position. 3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the said mobile structure (12) comprises -a common actuator (V4) adapted to actuate the stripping device (17) when the carriage (15) is in the above first position and the crimping device associated with the receiving device (16) for the end pieces (24) when the carriage (15) is in the aforesaid fourth position. 4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the aforesaid device for receiving and crimping the end pieces (16) consists of at least two clamping jaws (21, 22), delimiting between them, in the rest position, a cavity (23) of shape substantially complementary to that of a nozzle (24) crimped in the chosen shape, as well as a mechanical transmission system which can be coupled to said common actuator (V4) when the carriage (15) is in its fourth position, so as to allow this common actuator (V4) to tighten the jaws (21, 22) producing the crimping. 5. Machine according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the aforesaid stripping device comprises at least two knives (33, 34) associated with a mechanical transmission device which can be coupled to said common actuator (V4) when the carriage (15) is in its first position, so as to allow this actuator (V4) to cause a displacement of at least one of said knives (33, 34) causing shearing of the insulating sheath. 6. Machine according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the aforementioned common actuator consists of a jack (V4) whose rod carries a cam (31), and in that the transmission systems of the receiving device and for crimping the end pieces (16) and the stripping device (17) each comprise at least one lever (25, 26-35, 36) able to cooperate with said cam (31). 7. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for holding in position the end of the conductor (4) comprises two jaws (7,8), at least one of which is actuated by a jack (V1) integral with the fixed structure (1). 8. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above first and second actuators (V2, V3) consist of cylinders. 9. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (16) of the tips (24) comprises means for driving the tips in rotation about their respective axes during the phase of introduction of the stripped ends (4 ') of the conductors (4) inside the end pieces (24). 10. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, characterized in that the aforesaid receiving and crimping device and the aforesaid stripping device are each made in the form of a block (70,71) independent and removable. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 11 CH 675 932 A5 11. Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the above blocks (70, 71) each comprise: - A fixed structure (72, 73) comprising easily removable fixing means for mounting on the above-mentioned carriage (15); - two levers (74, 75-76, 77) articulated on the fixed structure and each comprising, at one of its ends, a head (82, 83-84, 85) specific to the device considered and, at its other end , a roller (86, 87-88, 89) or the like; - A cam (90, 91) guided by the fixed structure (72, 73) so as to be able to effect a translational movement between the two rollers; - first elastic means bearing on the fixed structure (72, 73) which act so as to tighten the rollers (86, 87-88, 89) against the profile of the cam; - an adjustable stop (96,97) integral with the cam; and - second elastic means which exert on the cam (90, 91) a force tending to push said cam into a position corresponding to a minimum distance between the rollers (86, 87-88, 89), and in that the above common actuator (V4) comprises a stop surface capable of cooperating with the adjustable stop of each of said blocks. 12. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the heads of the two levers (74, 75) of the fitting and crimping block (70) each comprise a ball joint (106,107) which engages in a housing provided in a jaw (108.109). 13. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the heads of the two levers (76, 77) of the stripping block (71) each comprise a knife (111,112) which extends substantially at right angles to the axis longitudinal of the lever and whose cutting edge has an elliptical profile. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 7